Across all social science disciplines, but in particular public administration, there is a shared concern about the costs of using traditional random samples to generate data, and its impact on researchers' ability to engage in "quality" research. As a result of these costs, more academics, practitioners, and students are turning to…

This booklet was designed to increase awareness about the metric system. Why the metric system is being used increasingly is described. Pictures illustrate simple comparisons of the most commonly used units of the metric and customary systems. Calculations using both systems are compared through presentation of three problems. Next, everyday units…

Students can develop valuable research skills and learn about our political process by obtaining campaign finance reports filed by all candidates in federal elections. Other statistics and information available from the Federal Election Commission are also valuable learning tools. (Author/GC)

This article is a report of a campaign game that was formulated in order to introduce the student to the realities of political campaigning. Post-game tests indicated that the game generally increased political interest and had little effect on measured political attitudes such as efficacy, saliency and alienation. (Author)

Describes the efforts of undergraduates in an Environmental Communication course in organizing and implementing a public information conference on an environmental issue. Explains the strategies involved in the planning, publicizing, presenting, and evaluating phases. Provides summaries and evaluations of previous conferences. (ML)

This guide is designed for persons who need to plan education programs in world affairs for presentation to an organization. Such a person might be a program chair of a local League of Women Voters or a community Rotary Club. The guide is organized in five sections, each of which presents information on one of five steps to program planning. The…

This program guide encourages discussion on the fundamental values on which the government's economic policies are based. This public talk series program is designed for the discussion of critical social and political issues through a balanced, nonpartisan presentation of a spectrum of views. The core of the program is consideration of four…

This bibliography is useful to those interested in the intersection of collaborative learning concerns and enhanced citizen participation. In addition to an introduction, there are five parts: (1) general information on study circles and small group discussion (8 references); (2) the theory of collaborative learning in small groups and study…

Outlines a course on the Canadian governmental system. The four lessons stress the inquiry process and suggest activities which encourage the student to take an active role in experiencing a "human" dimension of the Canadian political process. (Author/DB)

This paper identifies project-based curriculum elements to increase postsecondary students' sense of political efficacy and their political interest, knowledge, and participation. It evaluates factors correlated with low levels of voting and the implementation of registration activities as remedies; it then introduces curriculum elements based on…

The North Dakota Close Up experience is based upon the belief that students need to have an understanding of the roles of state and local governments, of politics and law, and of the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy if the U.S. experiment in self-government is to survive. This document is designed to help students and…

In addition to acting as good day-to-day administrators, principals of Catholic high schools should be leaders in the area of ideals, expressing and putting into action perceptions that remain below the level of consciousness of others. They may choose that their schools emphasize more important values, perhaps at the expense of traditional school…

The honors program in public affairs at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) consists of five seminars, an internship, and a senior workshop. Program goals, program content, instructional strategies, students in the program, and benefits of the program to CSM are described. (JN)

Reviews discoveries and reports of dinosaurs to help put them into paleontological perspective. Proposes that discoveries not be announced from the field, but submitted to professional evaluation and peer review before release to the public. (Author/RT)

When delivering educational programs for commercial farmers, public policy educators should include some major points related to upcoming deliberations on the 1995 farm bill. This paper provides background material for public policy educators on the following questions. When do farm program benefits become so low that farmers decide not to…